§ Mr. RoweTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to receive the environmental assessment report on the proposed high-speed rail link; and if he will then publish it.
§ Mr. FreemanThe environmental assessment which British Rail has been carrying out of the safeguarded section between Cheriton and Upper Hailing may need revision, depending on the choice of a preferred route for the whole rail link. However, before embarking on the formal approval process for the rail link, British Rail intends to prepare and publish a full environmental statement for the complete route between the channel tunnel and London.